A Preliminary Review of Metallogenic Regularity of Tungsten Deposits in China

Tungsten ore resources are abundant in China with relatively complete types of deposits. Skarn type and quartz vein type deposits are dominated in the tungsten resources, whereas quartz vein type wolframite deposits are most important in terms of exploitation and utilization. Skarn type tungsten deposits are concentratedly distributed in the central Nanling region, such as South Hunan, South Anhui and the eastern Qinling region, while quartz vein type tungsten deposits occur mainly in South China, such as West Fujian, South Jiangxi, North Guangdong and South Hunan. The most important metallogenic epoch of tungsten is the Mesozoic, while the metallogenic tectonic setting is featured by an intracontinental environment after orogeny with sever tectonic movements, deep-seated faults and frequent magmatic activities, especially Mesozoic granitoids closely related to tungsten-tin mineralization. 22 metallogenic series of ore deposits characterized by or significantly related to tungsten were defined based on precise statistic information of 1199 tungsten mining areas and thorough the summary of metallogenic regularities. Based on studies of the metallogenic regularity of tungsten deposits, skarn type (or greisen type), quartz vein type and massif-type of tungsten deposits are thought to be the key prediction types. 65 tungsten-forming belts and 22 key ore concentration areas were ascertained and a distribution map of tungsten-forming belts of China was compiled, which provided a theoretical basis for evaluation and prediction of potential tungsten resources.